Lesson 3 - Finding Files on Your Computer

In the previous lesson, we talked about how folders can help to keep your files organized.
However, there may be times when you have trouble finding a certain file. If this
happens to you, don't panic! The file is probably still on your computer, and there are a
few simple ways to find it. In this lesson, we will show you different techniques you can
use to find your files, including searching and looking in common places.

Common places to look for files

If you're having a difficult time finding a file, there's a good chance you can find it in one
of the following places:

 Downloads: By default, your computer will place downloaded files in a

specific folder, known as the Downloads folder. If you're having trouble
finding a file you downloaded from the Internet, such as a photo attached
to an email message, this is the first place you should look. To view the
Downloads folder, open File Explorer, then locate and
select Downloads (below Favorites on the left side of the window). A list
of your recently downloaded files will appear.

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  Default folders: If you don't specify a location when saving a file, Windows
will place certain types of files into default folders. For example, if you're
looking for a Microsoft Word document, you could try looking in
the Documents folder. If you're looking for a photo, try looking in
the Pictures folder. Most of these folders will be accessible on the left side
of the File Explorer window.

 Recycle Bin: If you deleted a file by mistake, it may still be in the Recycle
Bin. You can double-click the Recycle Bin icon on the desktop to open it. If
you find the file you need, click and drag it back to the desktop or to a
different folder.

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Searching for files

Let's say you recently downloaded a few photos that were attached to an email message,
but now you're not sure where these files are on your computer. If you're struggling to
find a file, you can always search for it. Searching allows you to look for any file on your
computer.

To search for a file (Windows 10):

In the Cortana Search Box next to the Start button, type to search for a file. The search
results will appear above the search box.

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To search for a file (Windows 8):

Click the Start button to go to the Start screen, then start typing to search for a file. The
search results will appear on the right side of the screen. Simply click a file or folder to
open it.

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To search for a file (Windows 7 and earlier):

Click the Start button, type the file name or keywords with your keyboard, and
press Enter. The search results will appear. Simply click a file or folder to open it.

Tips for finding files

If you're still having trouble finding the file you need, here are some additional tips.

 Try different search terms. If you're using the search option, try using
different terms in your search. For example, if you're looking for a certain
Microsoft Word document, try searching for a few different file names you
might have used when saving the document.

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  Open the last application used to edit the file. If you know you used a
certain application to edit a file, open that application and select File >
Open > Recent from the menu. The file may appear in the list of recently
edited files.

 Move and rename the file after finding it. Once you've located the file,
you may want to move it to a related folder so you can find it more easily
in the future. For example, if the file is a picture, you might move it to
your Pictures folder. You may also want to give it a file name that will be
easy to remember. You can review our lesson on Working with Files to
learn more about managing files.

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